Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

The Coffey still is the world’s first patented continuous still invented by Aeneas Coffey in 1830. While Masataka Taketsuru was staying in Scotland, he had an opportunity to learn how to distill grain whisky in a Coffey still firsthand from craftsmen at James Calder in Bo'ness in 1919. Masataka valued the feature of this type of still and installed two sets of Coffey stills after he established Nikka Whisky. The first still was imported from Scotland to Japan in 1963, followed by the second still in 1966. These traditional Coffey stills are not easy to operate and not efficient to obtain spirits. However, they retain flavors originating from ingredients and deliver a distinctive creamy texture.

This unique expression was developed in 2013 as a result of Nikka's continuous experiments to widen the variety and offer more excitements to aficionados. Made from 100% malted barley, whisky distilled in a Coffey still is matured in old casks to enhance the rich maltiness, complexity and a silky texture. This expression is not categorized as “malt whisky” but as “grain whisky” since it is not distilled in a pot still.

More about Nikka

Nikka, one of Japan's most renowned whisky producers, was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, the pioneer of the Japanese whisky industry. Taketsuru studied the craft of whisky distilling in Scotland and brought this knowledge to Japan, where he first helped set up the Yamazaki distillery before founding his own company, Nikka.

Nikka has two main distilleries: Yoichi, located on the northern island of Hokkaido, and Miyagikyo, in the picturesque Miyagi prefecture. Yoichi Distillery is famous for its robust, smoky whiskies, produced using direct coal-fired heating of the pot stills, which creates a powerful and complex flavour. Miyagikyo Distillery, on the other hand, produces whiskies with a softer, fruitier profile, thanks to the use of milder distillation methods and the influence of the surrounding mountainous climate.

Nikka is known worldwide for its dedication to craftsmanship and quality. Nikka's whiskies, both the popular blends and and single malts, are praised for their balance, depth and refinement. The combination of traditional Scottish techniques with Japanese precision makes Nikka an iconic name in the world of whisky.